Parihaspora, now known as the Stone City or "Kane Shahar" in Kashmiri, was once called the Happy City. Located 27 kilometers from Srinagar on the right side of the Srinagar-Baramula Highway, this ancient site is filled with scattered stones that tell the story of its past.
The origins of Parihaspora date back to the reign of King Lalitaditya. Frustrated with the frequent flooding of Srinagar, Lalitaditya and his courtiers sought an elevated, safe, and secure location to establish their capital. Parihaspora, with its dry and elevated terrain, was the perfect choice. Additionally, its proximity to water made transportation easy.
However, this once-happy city fell into ruin. The decline began with King Lalitaditya's son, Vijayaditya, who initiated the city's destruction. The final blow came when Maharaja Shankar Varman used materials from Parihaspora to build his city of Pattan. Later, Sultan Sikander further contributed to its destruction, and during the Dogra rule, stones from the site were used for constructing the Srinagar-Rawalpindi road.
Today, Parihaspora's ruins are scattered across four main sites: Diwar Yekhman Pora, the northeastern part of the area, Trehgam, and Bodh Construction ruins. This highland was primarily meant for palaces and religious places, away from public life to ensure peace for religious activities.
As we explore the remains of this once-great city, we can see the intricate carvings and structures that still stand. The temple's entrance features detailed carvings and idols, and our Pandit community can help us understand their significance.
Parihaspora, derived from two words meaning "the City of Happiness," was chosen as a capital in 700 AD due to its elevated, dry location and easy water access. However, when the engineer Souya redirected the Jhelum and Sindh rivers from Trehgam to Shadipora, the city lost its water source, leading to its decline.
Historian Fida Hussain noted that before becoming the capital, this place was known as ShahmarPal or Shah Pal, with large rocks used for constructing temples. He also mentioned that the main points of the 4th Buddhist Council, held in Kashmir, were carved on a copper plate buried around Parihaspora. Although some critics dispute this claim, it highlights the area's rich history.
Today, we continue to uncover the secrets of our ancestors' technologies and craftsmanship. Historians like Cunningham and R.C. Kak have documented these stories, and we strive to present them to you in simple and easy words.
As we conclude, you might wonder how this Happy City turned into ruins. The decline began after King Lalitaditya's reign in 733 AD, with Vijayaditya's seizure of temple lands and Maharaja Shankar Varman's use of materials for Shankar Pattan. The final destruction occurred during Sultan Sikander's reign and during Dogra rule its stones were used in construction of Srinagar- Rawalpindi road.
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Ayjaz ul Haq
Nice piece of information, concise and to the point.
